USC Marshall MBA Deadlines 2023-2024

Hi Alex and Graham!

I've been listening to your podcast weekly for a few months and the profiles and webinars have been so helpful!

I am only applying to Georgetown McDonough because I am geographically restricted to DC for the next couple of years. I have attended their online events, spoken with admissions representatives, met alumni and toured the campus. I am applying in the second round.

I am from a top 10 public university with double majors in Economics and Statistics. The quant classes were very challenging so my GPA was very low. There was not a positive trend in my grades over the years. I am aiming for a 700 on the GMAT.

My background is in the marketing analytics and advertising measurement industry. Job duties include working with data, client engagement, project management, requirements gathering and coordinating with internal and external stakeholders. I’ve worked with Pharmaceuticals marketing clients. I want to get into technology and data Strategy Consulting post-grad. Long term goal is to break in to the tech startup scene. I want to pursue an MBA to gain the credibility to hold senior leadership positions. Also would help for network building.

My most recent job and team were affected by a corporate reorganization so I have been unemployed for 2 months now. Additionally, I took a year off of undergrad after freshman year to address mental health issues. One more gap in my profile would be that I was unemployed from May 2020- January 2021 due to a crappy job market during the start of the pandemic.

In my free time I like to work out, play in soccer leagues (I am the team captain), hang out with friends, cook new things, explore the city, read about current events and business/tech news. I am involved with my undergraduate career center and mentor current students.

To summarize, I am seeking advice on:
—Demonstrating that a school is my one and only
—Very low GPA
—Undergraduate year off
—Addressing a layoff and period of unemployment?

Thank you so much!

UCLA Undergrad, 3.3 GPA, but a hard double major of mechanical engineering and economics, with a 3.6 in economics.

Part time job in college and Competed on Ski and Snowboard team.

Worked in consulting (tier 2) for 2 years, focused mostly on strategy work for utility company wildfire mitigation. Decided to explore the startup world to learn how to make my own for the same target of wildfire prevention down the road. High performer, good leadership experience with the startup, and consecutive promos.

Now targeting either making my own startup post mba or VC in wildfire mitigation field (like convective capital)

Also spent a year working with pro-bono consulting company for eco-based nonprofits

Active duty military nurse with some pretty unique work experience

I decided to pursue an MBA to transition into healthcare consulting and later entrepreneurship

Decent EC's

Above average GPA and test for target prgrams